Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms

Sancai Tuhui Original Chinese: 三才圖會. This title translates to "Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms," referring to the three traditional divisions of the universe: Heaven, Earth, and Humanity. This monumental encyclopedia was compiled during the Ming dynasty by the scholar Wang Qi and his son Wang Siyi. Published in 1609, the work is celebrated for its hundreds of detailed woodblock illustrations covering subjects as diverse as astronomy, geography, biology, and historical costume. It remains one of the most significant visual records of knowledge and culture from late imperial China.